We've decided to head out again in February, this time to Death Valley. Currently in itinerary discussion with Hubby, as he wants to go to the Mojave Desert, Joshua Tree, etc etc etc, all in 10 days. I'm holding out for a couple of unexciting stops in the central valley, followed by a long stop in Death Valley, and then a couple of unexciting stops back.
The other National Parks round there, like Kings Canyon, will be too snowy and cold for a visit at that time. (Check out Kay and Paul's blog from their winter trip to that area if you don't believe us - even the intrepid Bridges ended up in a motel.)
Unfortunately, the central valley really is very unexciting indeed. I'm struggling to find anything that sounds appealing. Maybe we'll just do one overnight to break the monotonous schlep down I-5. After all, we did learn in our first trip that going more than 175 miles in one hop is a mistake.
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The adventures of a family of novice RV campers in Northern California.
Our Route
FEBRUARY 2010
Our goal was Death Valley. First we took US-101 south from the Bay Area to Pismo State Beach for two nights. Then we headed back up 101 a short way to pick up Highway 46 at Paso Robles. Medium hop down Interstate 5 down to Bakersfield in the Central Valley, and across on 58 towards Tehachapi. One night at the Sierra Trails RV Park in Mojave on Highway 14.
Loop up 14, 395 and 190 into Death Valley to Furnace Creek Visitor Area. We stayed there for four nights, then headed south again on 190, 127 and US-15 to Calico Ghost Town (and a campsite with full hookups!) for one night.
The plan was then to make a big push north on 58 and 99 up to Merced and the McConnell State Recreation Area; and finally a leisurely drive back to the Bay Area. In the event, the weather was bad so we abandoned our night at McConnell and kept going from Merced back into the Bay Area along I-580, I-880 and home.
We drove about 1,135 miles in all.
AUGUST 2009
We followed US-101 north out of the Bay Area, up to Calistoga (to the Bothe-Napa State Park), then further north up 101 to the Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
North some more on 101, crossing into Oregon to Ashland, via Medford, to take in "Alls Well That Ends Well" at the Ashland Shakespeare Festival and eat restaurant food.
A quick loop up to Crater Lake on highway 62; then a long drive south to Lassen Volcanic National Park on highways 97, 89 and 44; and finally down interstates 5, 505, 80, and 880 home.
Our goal was Death Valley. First we took US-101 south from the Bay Area to Pismo State Beach for two nights. Then we headed back up 101 a short way to pick up Highway 46 at Paso Robles. Medium hop down Interstate 5 down to Bakersfield in the Central Valley, and across on 58 towards Tehachapi. One night at the Sierra Trails RV Park in Mojave on Highway 14.
Loop up 14, 395 and 190 into Death Valley to Furnace Creek Visitor Area. We stayed there for four nights, then headed south again on 190, 127 and US-15 to Calico Ghost Town (and a campsite with full hookups!) for one night.
The plan was then to make a big push north on 58 and 99 up to Merced and the McConnell State Recreation Area; and finally a leisurely drive back to the Bay Area. In the event, the weather was bad so we abandoned our night at McConnell and kept going from Merced back into the Bay Area along I-580, I-880 and home.
We drove about 1,135 miles in all.
AUGUST 2009
We followed US-101 north out of the Bay Area, up to Calistoga (to the Bothe-Napa State Park), then further north up 101 to the Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
North some more on 101, crossing into Oregon to Ashland, via Medford, to take in "Alls Well That Ends Well" at the Ashland Shakespeare Festival and eat restaurant food.
A quick loop up to Crater Lake on highway 62; then a long drive south to Lassen Volcanic National Park on highways 97, 89 and 44; and finally down interstates 5, 505, 80, and 880 home.
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Useful RV info websites
Other Travel Websites
Our Mobile Library
- Coastal California (Lonely Planet Guides, 2007)
- Day Hikes in Oahu, Robert Stone (Day Hike Books, 2001)
- Frommer's Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu (11th Ed, 2010)
- Frommer's Oregon (Wiley, 2008)
- The Rough Guide to California (Rough Guides, 2000)
- The Unofficial Guide to California with Kids by Colleen Dunn Bates and Susan LaTempa (Wiley, 2007)
- West Coast RV Camping by Tom Steinstra (Moon Outdoors, 2009)
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